Effects of polyethyleneglycol chain length and phospholipid acyl chain composition on the interaction of polyethyleneglycol-phospholipid conjugates with phospholipid: Implications in liposomal drug delivery

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate polyethyleneglycol(PEG)-phosphatidylethanolamine(PE) conjugate interaction with phospholipid bilayers, in an attempt to explain the dependence of liposome circulation time on formulation. Methods. Differential scanning calorimetry, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and NMR were the major methods used in the study. Results. Mixtures of PEG-phospholipid conjugates and phosphatidylcholine existed in three different physical states: a lamellar phase with components exhibiting some miscibility, a lamellar phase with components phase separated, and mixed micelles. Beyond 7 mol% of PEG(1,000-3,000)-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE), and 11 mol% PEG(5,000)-DPPE in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a strong tendency towards mixed micelle formation was observed. All concentrations of PEG(12,000)-DPPE and PEG(5,000)DPPE beyond 8 mol% formed phase separated lamellae with phosphatidylcholine. Decreasing the acyl chain length from C-16:0 to C-14:0 caused a decrease in tendency towards micelle formation and phase separation. These tendencies increased upon increasing acyl chain length to C-18:0 Phase separation was at least partly due to PEG chain-chain interaction. This was supported by an increased fraction of PEG chains exhibiting a fast NMR transverse relaxation in DPPC/PEG(5,000)-DPPE mixtures as compared to that in distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC)/PEG(5,000)-dioleoyl-PE (DOPE). Conclusions. These phenomena are discussed in relation to both bilayer and steric stabilization of liposomes, and the lack of prolonged circulation with certain formulations is discussed.